Hayabusa 2 is a Japanese mission launched in December 2014 on a six-year mission to study the asteroid Ryugu and to collect samples to bring to Earth for analysis.
Hayabusa 2 was launched in December 3, 2014. The mission includes a main spacecraft, small rovers, a lander, and an impactor that will be launched into the asteroid’s surface to create an artificial crater. The spacecraft is expected to touch down on Ryugu multiple times starting in early 2019 to collect samples to bring to Earth in late 2020.
After launch, the spacecraft completed an initial checkout period by March 2, 2015 and then moved into its “cruising phase” toward asteroid Ryugu.
Less than a year later, on December 3, 2015, Hayabusa 2 carried out an Earth flyby at a range of 1,920 miles (3,090 kilometers) over Hawaii to increase the spacecraft’s velocity.
The spacecraft performed the first major firing of its ion engines between March 22 and May 5, 2016. It conducted a shorter (3.5 hour) firing on May 20, 2016 to adjust its trajectory.
Hayabusa 2 arrived at asteroid Ryugu in June 2018.
Picture Credit : Google